Narrative:

Ground control cleared us to taxi to runway 34L (left) with hold short of runway 34R instructions. I read back the hold short clearance as required. We were initially about #4 or 5 to cross runway 34R at quebec intersection when we got to be the first one at the intersection of runway 34R and quebec, tower (local) cleared us into position and hold runway 34R. Only they didn't! What happened was that there were 2 planes with similar call signs. They were air carrier B 123 and we were air carrier A123. As we taxied onto runway I saw the other plane also going into position (at full length). I questioned controller and he told us to cross runway 34R and hold short of runway 34L. He still wasn't using correct phraseology (ie, air carrier a 123, air carrier a...). Same mistakes continued even on departure control! Often we're cleared for runway 34R intersection takeoffs even when ground control initially cleared us to taxi to runway 34L. It was not unusual. But nobody told us that there were (2) flts with same number. Easily could happen again.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR HEARS CLRNC FOR THEIR FLT NUMBER TO TAXI POS AND HOLD. CLRNC FOR OTHER ACFT WITH SAME FLT NUMBER.

Narrative: GND CTL CLRED US TO TAXI TO RWY 34L (L) WITH HOLD SHORT OF RWY 34R INSTRUCTIONS. I READ BACK THE HOLD SHORT CLRNC AS REQUIRED. WE WERE INITIALLY ABOUT #4 OR 5 TO CROSS RWY 34R AT QUEBEC INTXN WHEN WE GOT TO BE THE FIRST ONE AT THE INTXN OF RWY 34R AND QUEBEC, TWR (LCL) CLRED US INTO POS AND HOLD RWY 34R. ONLY THEY DIDN'T! WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THERE WERE 2 PLANES WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGNS. THEY WERE ACR B 123 AND WE WERE ACR A123. AS WE TAXIED ONTO RWY I SAW THE OTHER PLANE ALSO GOING INTO POS (AT FULL LENGTH). I QUESTIONED CTLR AND HE TOLD US TO CROSS RWY 34R AND HOLD SHORT OF RWY 34L. HE STILL WASN'T USING CORRECT PHRASEOLOGY (IE, ACR A 123, ACR A...). SAME MISTAKES CONTINUED EVEN ON DEP CTL! OFTEN WE'RE CLRED FOR RWY 34R INTXN TKOFS EVEN WHEN GND CTL INITIALLY CLRED US TO TAXI TO RWY 34L. IT WAS NOT UNUSUAL. BUT NOBODY TOLD US THAT THERE WERE (2) FLTS WITH SAME NUMBER. EASILY COULD HAPPEN AGAIN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.